Yoga Retreats at Solar Alvura, what to expect, the excursions and an amazing review!
Our lovely guest on our July yoga retreat, Rachael, recently review our yoga retreat in gorgeous 3-page spread in the Sunday Mirror Magazine. Here’s a little flavour or what impressed her the most while giving you an idea of what you might expect when you join us.
Although the retreats are in a stunning, luxury hotel in the Algarve they are surprisingly affordable so knowing first that your 5 days / 6 nights starts at €1062 for all your yoga, your delicious food, the facilities in the beautiful hotel in a shared room*. The Ryanair fights are frequent and affordable, the hotel is only 25 minutes from Faro Airport and arrange collection for you. It’s more accessible than you might think!
Rachael adored her stunning room, the outdoor dining area with heaps of flavourful veg at every meal. Our morning meditation is on a rooftop at sunrise with views extending to the Atlantic Ocean not that far away. We drift from there to a purpose-built yoga yurt with soft cream fabric overhead and warm red stone below, sunlight pouring in and the scent of lavender and orange-grove ever-present in the property.
The pool area is an infinity pool with shade or sun, luxurious sun loungers and the perfect place to chill for a few hours. It is a very peaceful location with maybe just an occasional distant passing car or the neighing of Eva’s pet donkey Divo to interrupt the silence.
Eva is a doctor specialising in weight-loss and diabetes management, some hotel guests are there for specific tailored programmes, most on the yoga retreat are simply there to enjoy an abundance of healthy food.
We have excursions daily, these are optional if you’d rather chill at the hotel or book a treatment at the spa. The Algarve Coast is a short drive away and we all pile into the hotel’s mini-bus for the ride. We take a ferry for the short ride to an island with white sand beaches, sun-loungers and umbrellas and cute bars with snacks and drinks. Tropical island experience with the Atlantic Ocean for a dip. We go to our local Olive Farm for a potter and a tour, our local historical town, Tavira, is perfect for a wander or a bit of shopping. We sea-kayak to another nearby island, more cute bars and coffee shops and a manageable, fun kayaking experience as we all paddle our own canoes! Life jackets and waterproof phone holders are all provided, the services in Portugal are excellent.
We eat together three times daily but nobody minds if you’d rather spend quiet time with your book or gazing out over the extensive property admiring Divo’s gorgeous ears! Mornings are in silence until breakfast so we get used the endless chattering mind and learn how to appreciate silence and stillness and moments of peace. Our retreat is designed so you build skills and learn things, short yoga sequences to develop your home practice, little tips and tricks on creating plates of gorgeous healthy food, meditation practices that can drift into your life with ease.
Rachael is still doing her daily meditation months later, many other guests (including me!) adopt some of Eva’s clever ways of maintaining healthy food choices, many others develop a short daily yoga practice. Eva and I are both scientist and educators and we love to support you in finding ways to live your best life.
Rachael’s full article can be accessed here. I’m here for any questions at all, get in touch! xS
*Please note prices are due to increase in 2024